Access door



March 27, 1934. D. v BUR-|- 1,952,836

ACCESS DOOR Filed FmF-69"I 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEYS D. V. BURT ACCESS DOOR March 27, 1934;

Filed Feb. 9. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZ lNl/frslvToR.

06/05 urf 5] J CWM E56 BY ji ATToRNEY Patented Mar. 27, 1934 STTES n 1,952,836 ACCESS DUUR Delos V. Burt, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Myron P. Potter, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application February 9 9 Claims.

This invention relates to access doors and doorways for buildings.

In the design and construction of buildings, particularly hospitals, oiiice buildings, churches and public buildings generally but often in private dwellings as well, it is customary to provide control stations for water, gas, electricity, etc., at convenient points throughout the building. The gas valves, water valves, lavatory and bath tub valves, electric switches, circuit terminals, etc., are located in recesses or chambers in the walls, iioors or ceilings, and the recesses or chamers are provided with suitable doors or covers by which they may be sealed, protected and made nished and pleasing in appearance. In some instances the station is so located that an aperture extending entirely through the wall is provided to give access to it. Heretofore, such access doors or doorways, while functioning mechanically, have usually been so constructed as to be unadaptable to a pleasing appearance. They have comprised hinges and other protruding structural features on the exterior visible portions, and the screws, bolts or the like, by which they have been constructed and installed, have further detracted from their appearance. Furthermore, installations where clean and sanitary conditions are desired, such as in hospitals and homes, such access doors have been diflicult to care for. Furthermore, in installations in which it is desired to have access doors harmonize in color with light colored walls and interiors, it has been diiiicult to keep the door clean because of the depositing of soot and other discoloration on the visible surfaces, due to the circulation of air outwardly through the joints and crevices of the access door; and because of the settling of dust on the projecting portions; and also because the janitor or engineer in using the door closes it after having handled the usually dirty valves and the like in the recess, and therefore leaves linger marks on the door.

One of the objects of this invention is to pro'- vide an access doorway and door of improved construction, which will be cheap to manufacture and easy to install.

Another object is to provide an access doorway and door which when closed is substantially flush with the finished surface of the wall in which it is installed, and is wholly free from projecting features or portions of any kind whatsoever, whereby it is perfectly dust-proof and may be kept perfectly clean and sanitary.

Another object is to provide an access door and doorway which may be opened and closed 1931, Serial No. 514,431

Another object is to provide an access door and doorway so constructed that the attaching devices for holding the door and other external parts in position to cover the recess may be installed after the wall or the like is completely iinished and by reaching through the open doorway from the nished side of the wall.

Another object is to provide an access door and doorway the parts of which may be made largely from sheet metal by cutting and stamping operations.

Another object is to provide an access door, thev essential parts of which are adaptable to be fabricated from sheet metal in relatively narrow width whereby the cost of production of the parts may be kept to the minimum.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description of my invention considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1, is a front elevational View of my improved access door and doorway;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately from the plane 2 of Fig. 1 and with the iigure rotated through an angle of'180;

Fig. 3 is a view taken from the plane 3 of Fig. 2 with some of the parts behind the section plane omitted for simplicity;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately from the plane 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a part of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a part of Fig. 3.

In the above figures, Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 1, being about onethird of actual size of a characteristic embodiment of my invention, and Figs. 5 and 6 are drawn to a scale about twice actual size of the same characteristic embodiment.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to an interior wall 1 of a building, one face 2 of which is finished with a layer of plaster 3, the wall having an aperture 4 extending entirely therethrough, and through which a person on the iinished side of the wall may reach to haveV access to valves, switches or the like not shown. The aperture 4 is rectangular (in the planeof the wall) and may be cut in the wall after the wall is built, but is preferably formed during the construction of the building; and I will describe the construction, installation and operation of my invention in relation to the latter case.

During the construction of the wall 1, a rectangular Wooden buck or frame is set in the wall, substantially filling the aperture as shown, and secured in position by anchoring it in the material of the wall 1 in any known or suitable manner. Prior to the application of the layer of plaster 3 to the wall, a metal door frame 6 is mounted within and secured to the buck 5 by screws such as '7-7, and provides attachment means located in the wallv recess to which the door may be secured.

The door frame 6 preferably comprises a rectangular annular frame, having an internally di rected annular flange 9 and is best shown in thel cross-sectional views thereof forming part of Figs. 2 and 4. The cross-sectional shape ofthe door frame 6 as shown in these figures is that of angle iron havingV a long leg 8 and a short leg 9. The annular frame 6 is of the same shape as the inside of the buck' but slightly smaller, and is adapted to be set inside the buck and secured thereto with aspace 10A all around the frame between the frameandthe buck. The frame is secured in this position by means of the screws '7-7, referred to above, inserted through suitable holes in the leg 8 ofl the frame and screwed intothe buck. The exact position of the frame 6 is predetermined before the screws are driven home and this position is such that the edge of the frame, or of the long leg 8 thereof, will lie in the plane of the nished surface-3a of the layer of plaster 3 which is to' be applied.

The' further-'installation of the device is then postponed' until the plaster 3 is applied. In applying the plaster, the edge 11 of the frame may t between the frame 6 and the buck 5, permitting the use of a cheap roughly made buck; and by permitting" the plaster to eXude into the space 10, effects a tight seal between the frame 6 and the plaster 3'.

The remainder of the structure to be installed consists of a door and trim therefor, and these may be installed at any time after the plaster 3 has set, but particularly in cases in which the interior finish ofthe room is light in color, these parts are preferably installed after everything els is finished. These parts will now be described.

'Ilese parts comprise a door 14 and a trim 15 therefor, preferably made of flat sheet metal; the door being mounted within the trim in a manner to be described so that the door and trim are flush with each other and their exterior faces in a plane when the door is in closed position; and they comprise further the means for securing the door and trim in the doorway.

The trim l5 as shown is a hollow rectangle encompassing the edges of the door 14 and may be cut or stamped from a single piece of sheet metal. But in the preferred practice of my invention, I form the trim 15 out of a plurality such as four separate pieces 16, 17, 18 and 19, cut

from relatively narrow strips of sheet metal. The pieces 17 and 19 have on their ends male dovetail portions 20, and the pieces 16 and 13 have corresponding female dovetail portions 21 cut in the edges thereof and matingly meshed or engaged with the dovetail portions 20. The four pieces 16,` 17, 18 and 19 are thus dovetailed together to form a hollow rectangle.

Secured to the inner surface of the trim 15 is an annular rectangular metal trim support 22, the cross-sectional shape of which, as shown Figs. 2 and 4, is that of a channel iron, with the flanges 23 and 24 thereof inwardly directed. The flange 24 lies iiat against the inner face of the trim 15 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner as by welding. The other flange 23 serves a purpose to be described. The rectangular support 22 serves as attaching means for attaching the trim 15 to the frame 6.

The channel-form trim support 22 is, as shown, of smallerexternal perimeter than the inside of the frame 6 but is preferably of the same general rectangular shape thereof. When installed, the trim support lies within the frame 6 as shown.

The trim support 22 may be produced in any desired manner, but I prefer to form it from a plurality such as four pieces cut along diagonale atV the ends thereof, as indicated at 25-25 to form mitred joints therebetween.

The door 14 is preferably formed from a single piece of fiatr sheet metal and is hingedly supported on the trim 15 by the following construction. A piece of angle iron or of sheet metal bent into the form of an angle iron 26 has one leg 27 thereof laid flat against the inner surface of the door and secured thereto in any suitable manner as, for example, by welding. At opposite ends ofthe angle iron 26, and preferably in the corner between thev legs 27 and 28 thereof are bolted a pair of hinge blocks 29-29 by means of bolts 30-30 projected through suitable perforations in the angle leg 28 and in the hinge block 29. The hinge blocks 29 are each provided with a hinge trunnion 31 extending therefrom with a common axis in a direction parallel to the adjacent edge 32 of the door. The trunnions 31 are rotatably mounted in lugs 33-33 formed by slitting or cutting the flange 24 at 34-34 in the upper and lower horizontal reaches of the trim support 22 and at points suitably spaced from the mitred corners thereof, and then bending the flange 24 to form the lugs 33 disposed in parallel planes at right angles to the plane of the ange 24.

The arrangement thus described comprises upper and lower hinges having a vertical hinging axis upon which the door 14 may have hinging movement supported upon the trim support 22.

The flange 24 of the trim support 22 projects inwardly beyond the edge of the trim 15, as shown at 35-35, along the upper and lower horizontal reaches of the trim support and on the vertical reach thereof opposite the hinge, and the projecting portion 35 provides a stop against which the door 14 may lie when in closed position.

Furthermore, the crack at the upper and lower In order that the flange 27 may overlap i.

as at 36 as above described, the flange 24 along the hinge edge of the door, is made shorter transversely than on the other three sides of the door, as shown at 37. Thus the overlapping leg 36 may, when the door is moved to the closed position, be brought into flat contact with the inner surface of the trim 15, to seal the crack along the hinge edge of the door.

To preserve the integrity of the planular surface of the door and trim, a latch for holding the door closed is provided, all the parts of which are behind the door or ush with its outer surface. The latch comprises a bracket 39 preferably welded to the inside surface of the door; and a latch 40 between the bracket 39 and the door, which may be rotated or rocked into a position to overlap the projecting portion of the flange 24.

The latch has a trunnion 41 extending through a suitable perforation in the bracket 39 and a trunnion 42 in a perforation in the door, the end of the trunnion 42 being flush with the door face. A slotted recess 43 in the trunnion 42 is provided adapted to receive the end of a screwdriver or knife blade whereby the latch may be rotated to engage the inner face of the ilange`24 to hold the door shut or to disengage the same to permit the door to be opened. By tilting the handle of the screw-driver or knife blade toward one side, while in the slot, sufhcient friction will be created for pulling open the door with the screwdriver or knife.

To install the door, trim and trimsupport above described, the trim support 22 carrying the trim 15 and door 14 is set within the door frame 6 and shoved back into the frame until the inner face of the trim 15 lies flat against the surface 3a of the nished plaster layer 3, as at 44. The door 14 is then opened and the workman reaches through the open doorway and inserts bolts 45-45 through suitable perforations in the flange 9 and on through registering holes or perforations in the ilange 23 and puts the nuts 46 on the bolts. He then draws the nuts up tight, or screws the bolts tight into the nuts, thus drawing the trim 15 tight against the wall face 3a, making an airtight seal as at 44. If there is any compression of the plaster layer 3, the trim 15 will be drawn tight up against the edge 11 of the frame 6.

For purposes of economy, the flange 23 of the support 22 is made relatively shorter than the flange 24.

The ange 24 of the trim support 22 overlaps the dovetailing portions 20 and 21 of the pieces composing the trim 15 and when the trim support 22 is secured to the trim 15, it will prevent the pieces of the trim from bending, rocking or otherwise shifting out of their coplanar relation at the dovetailed joints thereof.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described. Many changes and modifications thereof may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention without sacricing its advantages.

I claim:

1. In a device for accessibly covering a wall recess in combination with an attachment means in the recess, a trim, a door surrounded by the trim and having hinging movement relative thereto on a hinging axis, attaching means associated with the trim adapted to be secured to the attachment means to inwardly clamp the trim and door in position to cover the recess, the attaching means comprising an inwardly directed flange portion overlapping the door and trim on portions there-of lying on one side of the hinging axis.

2. In a device for accessibly covering a wall recess in combination with an attachment means in the recess, a trim, a door surrounded by the trim and having hinging movement relative thereto on a hinging axis, attaching means associated with the trim adapted to be secured to the attachment means to inwardly clamp the trim and door in position to cover the recess, the attaching means comprising a rectangular frame of channel cross-section, one flange of the channel overlapping the door and trim on portions thereof lying on one side of the hinging axis.

3. In a device for accessibly covering a wall recess in combination with an attachment means in the recess, a trim, a door surrounded by the trim and having hinging movement relative thereto on a hinging axis, attaching means associated with the trim adapted to be secured to the attachment means to inwardly clamp the trim and door in position to cover the recess, the attaching means comprising a rectangular frame of channel cross-section, one flange of the channel overlapping the door and trim on portions thereof lying on one side of the hinging axis, and the other ange of the channel provided with securing means for securing the attaching means in the I'BCCSS. 1

4. In a device for accessibly covering a wall recess in Vcombination with an attachment means in the recess, a trim, a door surrounded by the trim, attaching means associated with the trim and adapted to be secured in the recess to secure the trim and door in position to cover the recess, means for hinging the door to the attaching means comprising a pair of axially aligned trunnions secured to the side of the door inwardly of the recess, a pair of lugs on the attaching means provided with perforations for receiving the trunnions.

5. In a device for accessibly covering a wall recess in combination with an attachment means in the recess, a trim, a door surrounded by the trim, attaching means associated with the trim and adapted to be secured in the recess to secure the trim and door in position to cover the recess, means for hinging the door to the attaching means, said hinging means comprising a piece of angle section material connected to the side of the door inwardly of the recess, one leg of the angle overlapping the edge of the door and the trim adjacent the hinging axis, the other leg of the angle projecting rearwardly from the door, '130 blocks bolted to the said other leg of the angle and provided with co-axial trunnions, a pair of lugs on the attaching means provided with perforations receiving the trunnions.

6. In a device for accessibly covering a wall 13 of the hinging axis, means for hingedly mounting the door on the attaching means comprising a pair of lugs provided with coaxial perforations, the lugs being bent from the material of the flange into directions at right angles to the plane of the flange and a pair of trunnion supporting elements securedto the door onA thesides,thereof toward the recess withthe trunnions"in sertekil,in'

with the trim adapted to be secured tothe attachment means to inwardly clamp the trim and door in position to cover the recess, the attaching means comprising a rectangular -frame ofy channel cross-section, one flange of the channel overlapping the door and trim on portions thereof lying on one side of the hinging axis, a pair of lugs bent from the material of the flange and disposed in substantially parallel planes at right angles to the plane of the door, the lugs being provided with perforations coaxial with the hinging axis, a piece of angle section material secured to the door substantially parallel to the hinging axis thereof, a pair of trunnion supporting blocks secured in the corner of the said angle section piece With the trunnions thereof inserted into the said perforations, one leg of the angle section piece overlapping the door and trim on portions thereof on the other side of the hinging axis.

8. In a device for accessibly covering a Wall recess in combination with an attachment means in the recess, a trim, a door surrounded by the trim and having hinging movement relative thereto on a hinging axis, attaching means associated with the trim adapted to be securedto the vattachrnent means'to inwardly clamp the trim and door in position to cover the recess, the attaching,` means Acomprising a rectangular frame of channel cross-section, one flange of the channel overlapping the door and trim on portions thereof lying on one side of the hinging axis, a pair of lugs bent from the material of the flange and disposed in substantially parallel planes at right angles to the'plane of the door, the lugs being provided with perorations coaxial With the hinging axis, a piece of angle section material sevcured to the door substantially parallel to the hinging axis thereof, a pair of trunnion supporting blocks secured in the corner of the said angle section piece With the trunnions thereof inserted into the said perforations, one leg of the angle section piece overlapping the door and trim on portions thereof on the other side of the hinging axis, and the other ilange of the channel section frame being provided with a securing means for securing the attaching means in the recess.

9. In a device for accessibly covering a wall recess, a trim, a door surrounded by the trim, attaching means associated With the trim and adapted to be secured in the recess to secure the trim and door in position to cover the recess, the

door having hinging connection with the attaching means, the trim comprising a plurality of plane face elongated sections dovetailed together along adjacent end edge portions thereof forming a hollow rectangle and the attaching means overlapping the dovetailed connections secured thereto and rigidly maintaining them in coplanar relation.

DELOS V. BURT. 

